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“And if she does not?”

“Then other arrangements will be made,” Levi shrugged, finishing his drink. “Now, might you like to tell me when you plan to marry, or will we only discuss my antics as usual?”

“When I do something noteworthy, you are more than welcome to talk to me about them. Until then, I shall discuss the man that declared that he would be a bachelor until the day he died only to marry the first lady that caught his eye.”

“Very well,” he sighed. “I await that day with bated breath.”

Leonard smirked, leaving soon after. It would be a long day, and Levi knew perfectly well that he would need his rest, but he had realized something very important that he had forgotten during his conversation.

He was yet to tell his mother about his wedding.

He hadn’t been able to bring himself to speak to her. She was cruel when she was well, and vague and distractible when her illness plagued her, and in neither case did he wish to visit. However, he had to tell her before he brought Emma home. He had to give her some warning.

He left for his mother’s wing of the house. She was welcome to roam the household as she pleased, but she avoided him where possible and he was perfectly happy with such an arrangement. He found her in what she had deemed her drawing room, sipping tea on a settee.

“Mother,” he said gently, “might we talk?”

“If you insist,” she sighed, not quite looking at him.

“I have something to tell you.” He sighed, some lost little part of him still yearning for her acceptance. “I do not believe you will like it.”

“I hardly ever like what you have to say, so go on. Tell me what you must.”

“I am to marry tomorrow.”

She looked as though she might drop her teacup. She eyed him carefully—for once with no anger in her face, only shock.

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes. It is my fault entirely that you have not known, but it was a quick arrangement and I have been otherwise occupied.”

“A short engagement,” she nodded. “So you were untoward with some girl and you were seen?”

“Indeed. It is not what I wanted, but it is what is happening. She will be with me tomorrow after the ceremony, and you may meet her the following day.”

“And why can I not be present at your wedding? Am I not worthy?”

Levi faltered, and began to pace a little to help himself think. She had never been at all interested in what he was doing, and so he hadn’t thought for a moment that she would want to be there, but now that he was thinking about it he couldn’t help but wonder what her motives were.

“I hadn’t thought that it would be of any interest to you.”

“Seeing my only child marry? I can hardly think of anything that could be more important to a mother.”

“Well, you may attend if you wish. There will be a lot of guests present, but if you want to be there then we can have it arranged.”

“Good. I shall be ready.”

“Do you… do you not mind?”

“Why would I? It doesn’t matter what you said to your father, I always knew you would find a wife eventually. You were never strong enough to keep to your oath.”

Levi laughed, in spite of everything. He wondered how he had even a shred of kindness in him when his parents had seen anything but unkindness as weak.

“I shall see you tomorrow, Mother.”

“What is her name? I would hate to meet her and not know.”

“It is Emma, Mother. Emma Kendall.”